TV blackout snafu

Copyright 2013: Houston Chronicle

Updated 7:04 pm, Tuesday, April 23, 2013

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Regarding "Blame for TV blackouts begins with the teams" (Pge D1, Wednesday), thank you for speaking truth. This was something I had not realized and it makes me steam: Comcast SportsNet Houston itself got $1 million in tax handouts from the city for setting up here. Taxpayers, then, have already subsidized both the teams and the network, in exchange for a blackout.

Frankly, why can't customers just purchase a la carte? I would be willing to pay the same price I do now, yet limit the number of channels on my system. There is just too much garbage to weed through to find what to watch.

For now, I will not support the Rockets (who also chased off the AHL Hockey Aeros) or Astros in any way.

No merchandise, no going to the park/arena, no mention on my social media accounts. To me, it is as if both teams have simply left town.

The longer this goes, the less likely I am going to be interested in coming back to them. For right now, I'm quite happy paying a little extra for NHL Center Ice and watching my old hometown Penguins have a great season.

Technology gives us lots of options. My entertainment dollars will continue to flow in a direction away from these two greedy franchises.

This is the first time I agree with Loren Steffy as he has hit the nail on the head.

The best part of the article that I thought was amusing was the quote of Pete Abel, Suddenlink spokesman, that said his customers would be forced to pay for even more channels, some of which they may not want.

I already pay for channels I do not want including seven Spanish language (emigrate here but do not want to learn the language) and numerous junk I never watch.

But I do favor telling CSNHouston to take a hike.

Cable should have basic 20 channels and then other selections available as wanted, but that will never happen.

Sports fans [just] wait. In the future all NFL games will only be available on the NFL Network.